On April 18, Hamilton County Animal AdvoCATes & The Cat Hut will join animal shelters across the country in the Shelter Slumber Pawty, a nationwide advocacy and fundraising event in which participants stay overnight inside animal shelters to raise awareness and funds for homeless pets.

During the 24-hour event, participants will remain inside the shelter, staying in kennels, cat rooms, offices, or other shelter spaces, sharing their experience in real time and remaining present long enough for animals to settle, decompress, and connect.

Unlike traditional fundraisers, the Shelter Slumber Pawty centers on staying. Participants raise funds for the care and treatment of shelter animals while helping their communities better understand what shelter life is like for the animals who live there.

“This event gives people a deeper understanding of what our cats experience every day,” said Development Director, Sunshine Duffy. “It’s not about staying up all night — it’s about staying long enough to truly see them.”

In 2025, participating shelters nationwide raised more than $1 million through the Shelter Slumber Pawty. Data collected from shelters and participants indicates that animals often exhibit reduced stress behaviors and increased calmness during overnight stays, while participants consistently report a deeper understanding of shelter work and animal welfare.

Hamilton County Animal AdvoCATes & The Cat Hut will participate by hosting around a dozen volunteers, staff and board members who will use matching donations from local sponsors through social media campaigns, while playing games with the cats, giving them treats and sleeping beside them. The group’s goal this year is to raise $24,360, which will cover the cost of six months of spay/neuter surgeries for Hamilton County community cats. Fundraising for the event begins March 27.

Event sponsors for the Slumber Pawty are Webster City Veterinary Clinic, Walmart SparkGoods Store #1389 Boone, ToeBeans Pet Sitting, Boone Rivier Financial and KAP Properties.

The Shelter Slumber Pawty will take place from 12 p.m. on April 18 through 12 p.m. on April 19 at The Cat Hut. The Cat Hut will have extended hours on April 18. Their open hours that day will be 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To learn more or support Hamilton County Animal AdvoCATes during the Shelter Slumber Pawty, visit: https://www.shelterslumberpawty.com/event/CatHut2026.

History of the Shelter Slumber Pawty

Founded in 2017, the Shelter Slumber Pawty is an annual, nationwide advocacy and fundraising event that raises funds and awareness for animal shelters through overnight stays with shelter animals. The event emphasizes presence, storytelling, and community engagement to improve outcomes for homeless pets.

About Hamilton County Animal Advocates

Hamilton County Animal AdvoCATes helps cats and communities through three programs:

Trap-Neuter-Return — TNR of community and barn cats, CatSNAP — Cat Spay/Neuter Assistance Program for lower-income residents of Hamilton County and Adoption/Rehoming of cats and kittens.

Organized and incorporated as a 501(c)3 non-profit animal welfare organization in 2017, the only one in Hamilton County, they’ve grown from 88 cats and kittens helped in 2017, to over 500 in 2025.